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Land
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Rural-Urban Interaction in Terms of the Spatial Pattern and Local...
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Rural-Urban Interaction in Terms of the Spatial Pattern and Local Development

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Contexts and Urban-Rural Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 2904

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jiaxing Cui

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Interests: rural geography; rural land use transition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rongjun Ao

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Guest Editor
College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Interests: demography and regional sustainable development
Dr. Wensheng Zheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Interests: network of urban agglomeration and metropolitan
Prof. Dr. Xuesong Kong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
Interests: rural settlements planning; land consolidation; land use; ecological effects
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zihao An

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Interests: transport policy; mobility; planning for the quality of life; transport
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Enhancing rural–urban interactions has been gradually recognised as an overarching strategy to guide spatial interventions towards more sustainable and inclusive development, as well as the fundamental path to achieve rural revitalization, by improving urban–rural synergies, including optimising the management of ecosystems and natural resources, conceiving and implementing long-term plans that promote both the inclusivity for local actors that aim to reduce social, economic, and territorial gaps, as well as the free flow and equal exchange of urban–rural factors. Whilst in the academic discourse, the reflection on new urban–rural relationships and the understanding of their interactions in a new stage of urbanization started long before the global and national strategies. Conceptually, the rural–urban interaction refers to the flows of people, capital, materials, information, and technology between urban and rural areas. In fact, such an interaction is a rather complicated process mainly attributed to the heterogeneous geographical environment, deep and lasting change of socioeconomic system, and complex interaction elements. In this process, rural and urban communities of different geographic conditions, natural resource endowments and social relationship, as well as people's values, attitudes, and institutions will make different responses, which finally lead to different evolution patterns and outcomes. During the process of rapid urbanization and industrialization, new changes have taken place in the divisions of industries and functions between urban and rural areas. Meanwhile, the development of technology and multi-dimensional local and global networks enable the spatial flows of developing factors and population mobilities in a much wider range and higher speed. This has also led to the spatial pattern of rural–urban interactions constantly changing, which promote local development transformation. As rural–urban interactions change in their patterns and contents, the evolution rules, spatial pattern, and influences of the rural–urban interaction remain unclear, which has made rural–urban interactions a subject of significant interest.

This Special Issue aims to present the latest advances in our understanding of the novel findings and perspectives of rural–urban interactions in terms of spatial pattern and local development. Papers may be empirical or theoretical, case studies, reviews, or commentaries.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  • Novel theories and perpectives on rural–urban interactions;
  • Quantification and evaluation methods of rural–urban interactions;
  • Network evolution characteristics and mechanism of rural–urban systems;
  • Changing pattern of population mobilities and resource flows;
  • Networked development of urban agglomeration and metropolitan;
  • Land use transition accordance with rural–urban interactions;
  • Integration of labour, industry, and leisure activity markets;
  • Equalization of infrastructure and public services between rural and urban areas;
  • Practices and policies promoting rural-urban integrated development;
  • Rural transformation development and rural-urban interaction.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Jiaxing Cui
Dr. Rongjun Ao
Dr. Wensheng Zheng
Prof. Dr. Xuesong Kong
Dr. Zihao An
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • rural–urban integration
  • urban agglomeration network
  • population flow network
  • urban and rural transportation network
  • urban-rural land transition
  • innovation network
  • rural revitalization

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4809 KiB  
Article
Methodology for Wildland–Urban Interface Mapping in Anning City Using High-Resolution Remote Sensing
by Feng Jiang, Xinyu Hu, Xianlin Qin, Shuisheng Huang and Fangxin Meng
Land 2025, 14(6), 1141; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14061141 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 138
Abstract
The wildland–urban interface (WUI) has been a global phenomenon, yet parameter threshold determination remains a persistent challenge in this field. In China, a significant research gap exists in the development of WUI mapping methodology. This study proposes a novel mapping approach that delineates [...] Read more.
The wildland–urban interface (WUI) has been a global phenomenon, yet parameter threshold determination remains a persistent challenge in this field. In China, a significant research gap exists in the development of WUI mapping methodology. This study proposes a novel mapping approach that delineates the WUI by integrating both vegetation and building environment perspectives. GaoFen 1 Panchromatic Multi-spectral Sensor (GF1-PMS) imagery was leveraged as the data source. Building location was extracted using object-oriented and hierarchical classification techniques, and the pixel dichotomy method was employed to estimate fractional vegetation coverage (FVC). Building location and FVC were used as input for the WUI mapping. In this methodology, the threshold of FVC was determined by incorporating the remote sensing characteristics of the WUI types, whereas the buffer range of vegetation was refined through sensitivity analysis. The proposed method demonstrated high applicability in Anning City, achieving an overall accuracy of 88.56%. The total WUI area amounted to 49,578.05 ha, accounting for 38.08% of Anning City’s entire area. Spatially, the intermix WUI was predominantly distributed in the Taiping sub-district of Anning City, while the interface WUI was mainly concentrated in the Bajie sub-district of Anning City. MODIS fire spots from 2003 to 2022 were primarily clustered in the Qinglong sub-district, Wenquan sub-district, and Caopu sub-district of Anning City. Our findings indicated a spatial overlap between the WUI and fire-prone areas in Anning City. This study presents an effective methodology for threshold determination and WUI mapping, making up for the scarcity of mapping methodologies in China. Moreover, our approach offers valuable insights for a wise decision in fire risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural-Urban Interaction in Terms of the Spatial Pattern and Local Development)
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19 pages, 2135 KiB  
Article
Research on the Construction and Practice of an Urban–Rural Integration Planning Model from the Perspective of Element Flow: A Case Study of Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing City
by Sen Zhang, Keke Sun, Haoge Zhao, Hong Yao and Lei Shen
Land 2025, 14(5), 1067; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14051067 - 14 May 2025
Viewed by 256
Abstract
Ensuring the healthy movement of urban and rural factors is a key aspect in promoting urban–rural integration. Defining the mechanisms of factor movement and constructing an urban–rural integration planning model are important for the practice of urban–rural integration work. This study considers the [...] Read more.
Ensuring the healthy movement of urban and rural factors is a key aspect in promoting urban–rural integration. Defining the mechanisms of factor movement and constructing an urban–rural integration planning model are important for the practice of urban–rural integration work. This study considers the movement of urban and rural factors as its entry point and explores the resource endowments and movement paths of urban and rural factors based on the city–town–village spatial system. The urban–rural integration planning model was constructed using spatial and policy dimensions, and six integration design strategies for ecological, population, industrial, land, transportation, and public service factors were defined. Next, considering the Xiuzhou District of Jiaxing City as a case study, this study combines the current characteristics and integration directions of urban and rural factors to propose integration design goals and measures for six key factors. The movement paths of urban and rural factors were delineated, and the specific tasks of each administrative entity in urban–rural integration development were identified at each level to achieve the breakdown and transmission of the overall urban–rural integration strategy. The study integrated current status assessment, integration design, path construction, and goal breakdown, exploring the formulation of urban–rural integration strategies and work pathways. The aim was to address the current gap between urban–rural integration theory and practice, thus providing a reference and inspiration for related research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural-Urban Interaction in Terms of the Spatial Pattern and Local Development)
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24 pages, 4270 KiB  
Article
Digital Economy Development and Urban–Rural Integration in Northeast China: An Empirical Analysis
by Shibo Gao, Jing Zhang, Zuopeng Ma, Guolei Zhou, Yanjun Liu and Yuliang Liu
Land 2025, 14(5), 993; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14050993 - 4 May 2025
Viewed by 449
Abstract
The imbalance between urban and rural development has increased socio-economic challenges. Urban–rural integration has become an important strategy for addressing disparities in development between urban and rural areas in China. The digital economy offers new opportunities to advance urban–rural integration. This study constructs [...] Read more.
The imbalance between urban and rural development has increased socio-economic challenges. Urban–rural integration has become an important strategy for addressing disparities in development between urban and rural areas in China. The digital economy offers new opportunities to advance urban–rural integration. This study constructs an evaluation index system to assess the degree of urban–rural integration and examines the development of the digital economy in Northeast China from 2010 to 2020. It also studies the impact of the digital economy industry on urban–rural integration. The findings are as follows: (1) The development of the digital economy industry in Northeast China has a significant positive effect on urban–rural integration. (2) The influence of the digital economy industry on urban–rural integration varies across regions, with a stronger effect in areas with a moderate concentration of digital economy industries, non-border regions, and Jilin Province. (3) The facilitative effect of digital economy industries on urban–rural integration diminishes as urban economic levels rise, with two critical thresholds; after surpassing the first threshold, the promoting effect of the digital economy weakens noticeably, and after crossing the second threshold, the effect further declines. Based on these findings, the study offers policy recommendations. The research findings of this paper enrich the theoretical framework for urban–rural integration driven by the digital economy, provide a strong foundation for promoting the digital economy and urban–rural integration in Northeast China, and offer valuable empirical references for other regions exploring urban–rural integration pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural-Urban Interaction in Terms of the Spatial Pattern and Local Development)
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25 pages, 7898 KiB  
Article
A Method for Delineating Urban Development Boundaries Based on the Urban–Rural Integration Perspective
by Mengjing Wang, Walter Timo de Vries, Wanchen Sang, Haijun Bao, Yuefeng Lyu and Sheng Liu
Land 2025, 14(4), 859; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040859 - 14 Apr 2025
Viewed by 538
Abstract
Urban development boundaries are efficient tools for coordinating urban–rural relations and ensuring sustainable development. From 2000 to 2020, the expansion rate of the built-up area in cities and towns throughout China reached 177%, far exceeding the urban population growth rate of 96.5% in [...] Read more.
Urban development boundaries are efficient tools for coordinating urban–rural relations and ensuring sustainable development. From 2000 to 2020, the expansion rate of the built-up area in cities and towns throughout China reached 177%, far exceeding the urban population growth rate of 96.5% in the same period. As this spatial expansion seems to continue, there is a need to intervene and control urban boundaries. We believe using the urban–rural integration perspective to set (or reset) and maintain urban development boundaries will help manage urban expansion more effectively than present methods. This research, therefore, develops an urban development boundary delineation method from a macroscopic view for China. A new model for defining boundaries was developed based on the four dimensions of urban–rural interaction: economic demand, environmental protection, urban carrying capacity, and urban development resistance. And an empirical study was conducted in Guiyang City as an example. The results show that the resultant urban boundary can provide a more comprehensive and realistic growth model than current methods, making it more applicable for controlling and fostering sustainable urban and rural development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural-Urban Interaction in Terms of the Spatial Pattern and Local Development)
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17 pages, 8341 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Street-Edge Scales on Everyday Activities in Wuhan’s Urban Village Streets
by Jie Xiong, James Simpson, Kevin Thwaites and Yichao He
Land 2025, 14(2), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020252 - 25 Jan 2025
Viewed by 813
Abstract
Despite extensive research on what draws people to urban streets, most existing insights originate from Western contexts, offering limited perspectives from wider urban contexts. This study addresses this gap by examining everyday street activities in Chinese urban villages, focusing specifically on how two [...] Read more.
Despite extensive research on what draws people to urban streets, most existing insights originate from Western contexts, offering limited perspectives from wider urban contexts. This study addresses this gap by examining everyday street activities in Chinese urban villages, focusing specifically on how two spatial scales, the entire street edge and territorial segments, influence necessary, optional, and social engagements. Drawing on video recordings and walk-by observations in two urban villages in Wuhan, China, the research systematically measured the type and duration of activities across 110 territorially defined segments. The findings reveal that territorial segments, i.e., smaller-scale personalised subdivisions at a micro-scale often shaped by bottom–up adaptations, exert a significantly stronger influence upon how people use and linger in street space rather than entire street edges at a macro-scale, which shows only limited impact. This underscores the importance of fine-grained socio-spatial design and local ownership in fostering vibrant people-centred streets. By demonstrating the decisive role of micro-scale features, which span storefront layouts, semi-public alcoves, and adaptive uses, these results carry important implications for urban practitioners seeking to balance top–down redevelopment with bottom–up initiatives. Ultimately, the study enriches the global discourse on street-edge understanding and design, emphasising that territorial segments can be powerful catalysts for promoting activity and community life in dense urban contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rural-Urban Interaction in Terms of the Spatial Pattern and Local Development)
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